A leading voice in leadership, entrepreneurship, and societal progress
Mirjam van Praag is one of the most influential thinkers and leaders in the Netherlands. As Professor of Entrepreneurship and Leadership at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and former President of the Executive Board, she is uniquely skilled at bridging vision, science, and practice.
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As Chair of the Advisory Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (AWTI), Mirjam plays a key role in advising the government and parliament on these topics. Her impressive career spans academia, business, and the public sector—a unique combination that makes her lectures both inspiring and intellectually compelling.
Van Praag earned her PhD in Economics (cum laude) from the University of Amsterdam and began her career at Procter & Gamble and the Boston Consulting Group. She soon returned to academia, where she specialised in entrepreneurship and organisational economics. She has held prestigious academic positions at institutions including Copenhagen Business School and the University of Amsterdam, where she founded the Amsterdam Center for Entrepreneurship.
In addition to her academic work, Van Praag is a highly sought-after board member. She has served as a Crown-appointed member of the Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands (SER) and currently holds positions including Supervisory Board Member at De Nederlandsche Bank, Chair of the Supervisory Board at De Balie, and member of the Supervisory Board at Biotechbooster. She is also actively engaged in social issues, including her role on the national Taskforce for Combating Antisemitism.
Mirjam van Praag is a passionate speaker who makes complex topics accessible to a broad audience. Her talks are always relevant, grounded in scientific insight, and enriched with practical examples. With her wide-ranging experience, sharp analyses, and approachable style, she captivates any audience—from boardrooms to students, policymakers to entrepreneurs. She is a speaker who not only shares knowledge but also inspires reflection and action.
Her lectures are ideal for conferences, leadership events, academic gatherings, strategic sessions, and (executive) team workshops focused on reflection and connection. Book Mirjam van Praag for a keynote that inspires, challenges, and offers direction for the future.
Are organisations still entrepreneurial enough? How can boards and teams ensure they remain open to innovation and retain the agility required in today’s rapidly changing world? Drawing on her experience and research, van Praag demonstrates how surprisingly simple it can be to foster entrepreneurial behaviour—and to prevent it from being stifled by rules, procedures, and risk management.
How do you lead in a time of rapid technological, societal, and economic change? Van Praag shares insights on transformational leadership, inclusive leadership, and the importance of trust and transparency.
What makes an entrepreneur successful? How can entrepreneurship be fostered within organisations? Drawing on years of research and experience, Van Praag offers practical tools for innovation and entrepreneurial thinking.
As a female leader in a world often dominated by men—and drawing on engaging experimental research—Van Praag speaks with both authority and nuance about the pitfalls and biases surrounding diversity, as well as the power of diverse perspectives in decision-making, innovation, wellbeing, and organisational performance.
In an era where facts are under pressure, Van Praag advocates for evidence-based policymaking. She illustrates how science and governance can reinforce one another, and how leaders can make decisions grounded in both data and values.
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